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Mayor calls for new ideas in speech devoid of them
By Cynic on Tue, 12/08/2009 - 1:54pm
In his first major speech since his election to a fifth term, Mayor Thomas M. Menino issued a rousing call for new ideas - apparently including such out-of-the-box notions as actually building something (anything!) on the old Filene's site, reviving the proposal for a Business Improvement District in Downtown Crossing, and improving the quality of public education.
The speech marked a sharp departure from Menino's habit of using the venue to unveil signature proposals, like his call for a thousand-foot skyscraper. Hizzoner did make news, however, by announcing the appointment of Mitchell Weiss as his new Chief of Staff. Weiss currently serves as ED of the Tobin Project, and is conspicuously wonkier than past senior Menino aides, with tighter ties to the world of academics and think-tanks. The incumbent in the post, Judith Kurland, gets bumped over to a vaguely defined policy role, a sort of counselor-at-large to the mayor. It offers a sharp contrast - Kurland was a career political operator, with tight ties to the healthcare community and the political establishment.
The charitable reading of today's speech - Menino's first public appearance since the election - is that Menino has decided his administration needs some fresh ideas, and is making an open appeal to Boston's commercial leadership, even as he brings onboard a new CoS who has the requisite ties to idea-generating institutions. So there's no big idea in the speech because he's currently trying to generate one. The less charitable reading is that Menino doesn't, at present, have much to offer for his fifth term other than more of the same. It had something of the aura of Robert Redford's famous line, on winning election in The Candidate: "What do we do now?" Only in this case, it's not naivete or inexperience forcing the question, but the uncomfortable juxtaposition of the same old problems and the same cast of actors. Let's hope that Weiss can deliver some fresh energy to a mayor and an administration that appear to need it.
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Comments
Cover the hole
How difficult would it be to cover the hole and create some sort of temporary plaza in the space?
Giant Trampoline!
w00t! I'd pay admission for a turn on that at lunch hour!
The May-ah wants ideahs?
Communal trampoline!
My take
My take is that he's holding to his post-election Globe interview. The kids gloves are coming off... i.e. he no longer cares about re-election. That's why he picked Mitchell Weiss, who might have fresh ideas, and bumped over Kurland, the same old political operator.
If it works, we'll probably see him seek re-election. If it doesn't, he'll probably groom the Council President before stepping down.
The entire speech
here.
Staff Director Boston City Council.
The Staff Director of Boston City Council has been an obstacle to public information from Council public meetings. The City Stenographer, City Clerk, Assistant City Clerk and the City Messenger have been barriers to good Council public communications. Good people are needed for these important roles in city government, good people who will advocate for public access to the public information rather than hacks engaging in the terrible practices of favors for friends and blocking access to others.
Mitchell B. Weiss to Join Administration as Chief of Staff
Mayor Menino Announces Mitchell B. Weiss to Join Administration as Chief of Staff
http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=4468
Boston FinComm Public Meeting 4:30p Mon December 14
Re: Boston Finance Commission Public Meetings. Agenda. Minutes. Reports. Annual Reports.
This is to inform you that, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 39, s 23B, The Finance Commission of the City of Boston will hold a public meeting at it's offices at 152 North Street on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
Received
City Clerk's Office
2009 Dec -9 P 1:17
Boston MA
City of Boston
Finance Commission
152 North Street
Room 309
Boston MA 02109
tel 617 635-2202
fax 617 635-2206
December 9, 2009
Ms. Rosaria Salerno
City Clerk
City Hall
Boston MA 02201
Dear Ms. Salerno:
This is to inform you that, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 39, s 23B, The Finance Commission of the City of Boston will hold a public meeting at it's offices at 152 North Street on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
Very truly yours,
Matthew A. Cahill
Executive Director
email
matt.cahill at cityofboston.gov
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Thanks for volunteering to attend, Zak!
I expect a detailed report afterwards.
In the meantime, though, please stop posting random crap here. You have enough blogs of your own - surely you could set up another one on the Boston Finance Commission.